Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: D.C. Council panel lets Redskins owner keep alley Date: Sat, 14 Nov 92 16:22:11 EST Message-ID: \SE A;METROPOLITAN \HD D.C. Council panel lets Redskins owner keep alley \BY Vincent McCraw \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES A D.C. Council committee yesterday agreed to retroactively approve Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke's closing of a public alley next to his home. But the committee also ordered the mayor to determine if Mr. Cooke violated any city laws with his unauthorized act and to levy the appropriate fines or fees. The Economic Development Committee vote came after residents of Mr. Cooke's Woodley Park neighborhood and council members lambasted Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly for allowing him to close the alley 16 months ago by erecting an automated gate and brick landscaping without going through procedures established by city laws. "It is a blatant example of an elected official making herself above the law," said Gina Brown, a member of the Sixteenth Street Heights Civic Association in Ward 4. Representatives for Mr. Cooke have said the alley, bounded by 28th Street, Rock Creek Drive, Woodland Drive, 29th Street and McGill Terrace, was closed to ensure his "security and privacy." Mr. Cooke's land and house, assessed at $2.1 million, are in the 2800 block of Rock Creek Drive. The gate blocks 40 feet of the alley from public access. Walter Lynch of Group Design Associated, serving as Mr. Cooke's agent, said this week, "We were given verbal approval from the city well before any action was taken." But Ward 3 council member Jim Nathanson, whose ward includes Mr. Cooke's house, said there was a "bunch of stupidity" involved in Mrs. Kelly's handling of the team owner's case. The city is negotiating with Mr. Cooke to keep the Redskins in the District. He had sought to move the reigning Super Bowl champions to Alexandria, but that plan fell through when residents and elected officials there objected. "It is very unfortunate that the permanent closing of this alley was aided and abetted by those involved with other negotiations with Mr. Cooke," said council member Charlene Drew Jarvis, the committee's chairman. "I think there was a lot of politics in this." Mayoral spokesman Vada Manager said the alley and stadium are unrelated. "There was no linkage between the two. They are completely separate issues." Mrs. Jarvis was also angry that officials from the city's Finance and Revenue and Public Works departments and surveyor's office failed to testify as requested. "They didn't go AWOL," Mr. Manager said. "They weren't expected to be there. They had already answered the questions in writing." The panel also adopted an amendment by council member Frank Smith requiring the mayor's office to determine what laws Mr. Cooke broke by closing the alley and to assess appropriate fines or fees against him. Council members and residents said the fines could result in Mr. Cooke, a billionaire, paying thousands of dollars. Alley closings are often requested by developers or other businesses for construction purposes. After such a request, the mayor's office sends a resolution to the council for its approval. When an alley is closed, it becomes private property, and the new owner usually is required to pay taxes on the additional land. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM